Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

When you purchase Windows 7 from Microsoft Store, you have the option to download an ISO file or compressed files. The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool allows you to create a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file on a USB flash drive or a DVD. To create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive, download the ISO file and then run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. Once this is done, you can install Windows 7 directly from the USB flash drive or DVD.

The ISO file contains all the Windows 7 installation files combined into a single uncompressed file. When you download the ISO file, you need to copy it to some medium in order to install Windows 7. This tool allows you to create a copy of the ISO file to a USB flash drive or a DVD. To install Windows 7 from your USB flash drive or DVD, all you need to do is insert the USB flash drive into your USB port or insert your DVD into your DVD drive and run Setup.exe from the root folder on the drive.

Note: You cannot install Windows 7 from the ISO file until you copy it to a USB flash drive or DVD with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool and install from there.

The copy of the ISO file that the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool creates is bootable. Bootable media allows you to install Windows 7 without having to first run an existing operating system on your machine. If you change the boot order of drives in your computer’s BIOS, you can run the Windows 7 installation directly from your USB flash drive or DVD when you turn on your computer. Please see the documentation for your computer for information on how to change the BIOS boot order of drives.

You may make one copy of the ISO file on a disc, USB flash drive or other media in order to install the software on a computer. Once you have installed the software on a computer, the license terms that accompany the software apply to your use of the software and replace these terms. The license terms for Windows 7, once accepted, permit you to make one copy of the software as a back-up copy for reinstallation on the licensed computer. If you do not delete the copy of the ISO file you made to install the software on your computer, then the copy of the ISO file constitutes your back-up copy.

The following applications must be installed prior to installing the tool:

Microsoft .NET Framework v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

Microsoft Image Mastering API v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

Using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Before you run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool, make sure that you have already purchased Windows 7 ISO download from Microsoft Store and have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your hard drive. If you have purchased Windows 7 but have not yet downloaded the ISO file, you can download the file from your Microsoft Store Account.

To make a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file:

Click the Windows Start button, and click Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool in the All Programs list to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool.

In the Source File box, type the name and path of your Windows 7 ISO file, or click Browse and select the file in the Open dialog box.

Select USB to create a copy on a USB flash drive or DVD to create a copy on a DVD disk, then click Next.

If you are copying the file to a USB flash drive, select your USB device in the dropdown list and click Begin copying. If you are copying the file up to a DVD, click Begin burning.

When your Windows 7 ISO file is copied onto your chosen media, you can install Windows 7 by navigating to the root of your DVD or USB flash drive and double-clicking Setup.exe.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some frequently asked questions about using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool:

Where can I download .NET framework v2?

The .NET framework can be downloaded here.

Where can I download Image Mastering API v2?

The Image Mastering API can be downloaded here.

What size USB flash drive is required?

You need a USB flash drive with a minimum of 4 GB of free space.

Can I use my newly created USB drive to install Windows 7 on someone else’s computer?

No. The Windows 7 ISO file on the USB flash drive is only intended to be used to install Windows 7 on the licensed user’s own computer.

Can I backup to a CD-R?

No. The Windows 7 ISO file is too large to fit on a CD.

Can I backup to a Blu-Ray DVD disk?

Yes, as long as your DVD drive can write to a Blu-Ray DVD.

If I have other files on the USB flash drive will the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool delete them?

This tool requires the USB flash drive to be completely blank before the Windows 7 files are copied. This helps ensure that the device is bootable after the copying has completed.

Can I backup to an iPod, camera, or other device with enough free disk space?

Yes, but this is not recommended.

The device must be formatted in order for the device to be bootable.

A dedicated USB flash drive would be a better option.

Can I use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to backup other files?

No. This tool is only for use with the Windows 7 ISO file purchased from Microsoft Store.

Does the tool support dual-layer DVD discs for burning?

No. Currently, the tool does not support dual-layer DVD discs.

Troubleshooting

The following tips might help if you run into a problem using this tool.

The tool is requesting that I install the .NET framework and Image Mastering API before I can install the tool

For users running on Windows XP, you must install the .NET Framework v2 and the Image Mastering API v2 before installing the tool. You can download .NET framework here and you can download the Image Mastering API here.

Please note that a restart may be required after installing the .NET framework and the Image Mastering API.

When creating a bootable USB device, I am getting an error about bootsect

To make the USB device bootable, you need to run a tool named bootsect.exe. In some cases, this tool needs to be downloaded from your Microsoft Store account. This many happen if you’re trying to create a 64-bit bootable USB device from a 32-bit version of Windows. To download bootsect:

Once the file has been saved, go back to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to create your bootable USB device

My USB device is not in the list of available devices

If you don’t see your USB flash drive in the list of available devices, please make sure the drive is inserted in the USB port and click the refresh button beside the list of available drives.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-R drive, but the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool doesn’t recognize it

If there are multiple drives on the system the tool will select the first one that is capable of burning DVDs. If you have multiple DVD-R drives, try inserting the blank DVD into another DVD-R drive. If that doesn’t help, please make sure that your disc isn’t damaged and that your DVD-R drive is operational, and contact product support.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-R drive, but the tool won’t let me burn it

The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool allows you to create a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file on a USB flash drive or a DVD. To create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive, download the ISO file and then run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. Once this is done, you can install Windows 7 directly from the USB flash drive or DVD.

The ISO file contains all the Windows 7 installation files combined into a single uncompressed file. When you download the ISO file, you need to copy it to some medium in order to install Windows 7. This tool allows you to create a copy of the ISO file to a USB flash drive or a DVD. To install Windows 7 from your USB flash drive or DVD, all you need to do is insert the USB flash drive into your USB port or insert your DVD into your DVD drive and run Setup.exe from the root folder on the drive.

Note: You cannot install Windows 7 from the ISO file until you copy it to a USB flash drive or DVD with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool and install from there.

The copy of the ISO file that the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool creates is bootable. Bootable media allows you to install Windows 7 without having to first run an existing operating system on your machine. If you change the boot order of drives in your computer’s BIOS, you can run the Windows 7 installation directly from your USB flash drive or DVD when you turn on your computer. Please see the documentation for your computer for information on how to change the BIOS boot order of drives.

You may make one copy of the ISO file on a disc, USB flash drive or other media in order to install the software on a computer. Once you have installed the software on a computer, the license terms that accompany the software apply to your use of the software and replace these terms. The license terms for Windows 7, once accepted, permit you to make one copy of the software as a back-up copy for reinstallation on the licensed computer. If you do not delete the copy of the ISO file you made to install the software on your computer, then the copy of the ISO file constitutes your back-up copy.

The following applications must be installed prior to installing the tool:

Microsoft .NET Framework v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

Microsoft Image Mastering API v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

Using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Before you run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool, make sure that you have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your hard drive.

To make a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file:

Click the Windows Start button, and click Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool in the All Programs list to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool.

In the Source File box, type the name and path of your Windows 7 ISO file, or click Browse and select the file in the Open dialog box.

Select USB to create a copy on a USB flash drive or DVD to create a copy on a DVD disk, then click Next.

If you are copying the file to a USB flash drive, select your USB device in the dropdown list and click Begin copying. If you are copying the file up to a DVD, click Begin burning.

When your Windows 7 ISO file is copied onto your chosen media, you can install Windows 7 by navigating to the root of your DVD or USB flash drive and double-clicking Setup.exe.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some frequently asked questions about using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool:

Where can I download .NET framework v2?

The .NET framework can be downloaded here.

Where can I download Image Mastering API v2?

The Image Mastering API can be downloaded here.

What size USB flash drive is required?

You need a USB flash drive with a minimum of 4 GB of free space.

Can I use my newly created USB drive to install Windows 7 on someone else’s computer?

No. The Windows 7 ISO file on the USB flash drive is only intended to be used to install Windows 7 on the licensed user’s own computer.

Can I backup to a CD-R?

No. The Windows 7 ISO file is too large to fit on a CD.

Can I backup to a Blu-Ray DVD disk?

Yes, as long as your DVD drive can write to a Blu-Ray DVD.

If I have other files on the USB flash drive will the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool delete them?

This tool requires the USB flash drive to be completely blank before the Windows 7 files are copied. This helps ensure that the device is bootable after the copying has completed.

Can I backup to an iPod, camera, or other device with enough free disk space?

Yes, but this is not recommended.

The device must be formatted in order for the device to be bootable.

A dedicated USB flash drive would be a better option.

Can I use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to backup other files?

No. But there is another article which describes how to use this tool with other iso files.

Does the tool support dual-layer DVD discs for burning?

No. Currently, the tool does not support dual-layer DVD discs.

Troubleshooting

The following tips might help if you run into a problem using this tool.

The tool is requesting that I install the .NET framework and Image Mastering API before I can install the tool

For users running on Windows XP, you must install the .NET Framework v2 and the Image Mastering API v2 before installing the tool. You can download .NET framework here and you can download the Image Mastering API here.

Please note that a restart may be required after installing the .NET framework and the Image Mastering API.

When creating a bootable USB device, I am getting an error about bootsect

To make the USB device bootable, you need to run a tool named bootsect.exe.

My USB device is not in the list of available devices

If you don’t see your USB flash drive in the list of available devices, please make sure the drive is inserted in the USB port and click the refresh button beside the list of available drives.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-R drive, but the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool doesn’t recognize it

If there are multiple drives on the system the tool will select the first one that is capable of burning DVDs. If you have multiple DVD-R drives, try inserting the blank DVD into another DVD-R drive. If that doesn’t help, please make sure that your disc isn’t damaged and that your DVD-R drive is operational, and contact product support.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-R drive, but the tool won’t let me burn it

Make sure the disc isn’t dual-layer DVD disc. Currently, dual-layer discs are not supported within the tool.